Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills are no longer at St. John Fisher University this preseason, but their practice outside the ADPRO Sports Training Center on Tuesday sure felt like an intense training camp practice.
There were several instances of players going back-and-forth with each other that eventually spilled over to a fight. This even included star quarterback Josh Allen getting involved in the aftermath.
LISTEN LIVE TO WGR:
During an 11-on-11 period, linebacker Tyrel Dodson and tackle Spencer Brown got into it after the play. Both players went to the ground, which drew a bunch of other players. As they got to their feet, a big crowd of offensive and defensive players gathered around. Someone (identified below as Dodson by Heather Prusak of WIVB-TV) started swinging a helmet.
Allen and Dodson then had a very heated exchange as everyone was separating.
A few minutes later, wide receiver Stefon Diggs was matched up against defensive back Siran Neal, who made a play on the ball to knock it down. Diggs took exception to how Neal was covering him, making a gesture as if he thought he was held or interfered with. They went back-and-forth as both players went back to their huddles.
Then Diggs put a huge block on cornerback Taron Johnson a few plays later. Johnson got up and looked around as if he didn't appreciate it. That caused a little more jawing between the two sides.
Several minutes later, during a new 11-on-11 period, Diggs caught a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone from Allen and made sure the defense knew all about it.
After practice, while the team was going through their post-practice stretching, Johnson walked over to Diggs. They talked for several minutes before the wide receiver reached his hand out for Johnson to slap and shake it, which he did.
"We want to be great," said Allen of the intensity after practice when speaking with the media on Tuesday. "Sometimes you go through patches like that where both sides want it really badly. Both sides are storming to the ball, just trying to make some plays, and you need those practices. That makes your team better."
As far as actual football action was concerned, Allen hit wide receiver Gabe Davis with a couple of really great throws during 11-on-11.
On the first, he was on the run and zipped a ball over the shoulder as Davis was going towards the end zone. It was the kind of throw only Allen and maybe a few other quarterbacks can make.
On the second, Davis was totally covered by cornerback Tre'Davious White, but was still able to come down with it while White was draped all over him and fighting for the ball himself. Somehow, Davis held on for the touchdown.
White was very upset at the result.
Safety Micah Hyde got the better of Allen on a pass a little while later, stepping in front of one for an interception and bringing it back quite a bit before the whistle blew the play dead.
Wide receiver Andy Isabella continues to impress this preseason.
The 5-foot-9, 188-pound wideout who was signed as a free agent a couple of days into training camp has shown an ability to get open and then use his speed with the ball in his hands.
Isabella ran a 4.31 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 2019.
Attendance
The team announced on Tuesday they've placed offensive tackle Brandon Shell on the Reserve/Retired list. He did not practice on Tuesday.
Related
Also not practicing on Tuesday was running back Damien Harris, linebacker Terrel Bernard, defensive tackle Eli Ankou and defensive back Cam Lewis.
However, offensive tackle Tommy Doyle, fullback Reggie Gilliam, and defensive tackle D.J. Dale all participated in full.
As for linebacker Tyler Matakevich, he also practiced as the team activated him from the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The only player remaining on PUP at this time is pass rusher Von Miller.
Follow me on X: @SalSports
